Nothing is as successful as success, the saying goes, but with Donald Duck the opposite is true: the openness with which Donald reveals his weaknesses wins our hearts and stays unforgettable.

Experience Donald’s life’s work across nine decades in one of the most extensive illustrated publications on the Disney universe. Following TASCHEN’s Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse: The Ultimate History, we now trace the career of Mickey’s only rival in the fight for the title of Disney’s most beloved character. Beginning with his debut in the Silly Symphony short The Wise Little Hen on June 9, 1934, this volume documents Donald’s more than 170 animated films, his adventures in comics and on television, and his appearances in theme parks. As a special treat for fans, the authors have also delved deep into Disney’s vaults to tell the story of his unfinished film projects.

Thanks to unprecedented access to Disney’s extensive historical archives and collections, as well as to public and private collections, rare concept art, story sketches, background paintings, animation and comic drawings, and historical photographs have been unearthed. We encounter the work of all the key artists in film and comics who shaped Donald as a character. A comprehensive tribute is paid to the legendary comic storyteller Carl Barks, revered as the “Duck Man,” including early storyboard drawings shown here for the first time.

Outside the superhero genre, Donald Duck is the most widely printed character in comics history, and he appeared on screen more often than any other Disney character. Since the 1950s, Duckburg has become a truly global village, with a new generation of international artists joining their American counterparts.

Carl Barks once said, “Donald is everything, he is everyone. He makes the same mistakes we all make.” Walt Disney’s Donald Duck may often have bad luck, but that’s exactly why everyone can identify with the world’s most famous and beloved duck, celebrated here in a fittingly comprehensive homage.

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